The goal of this paper is to highlight the cross-sectoral importance of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) and give the big picture of ICT in developing countries. This is done by presenting a number of successful implementations of ICT applications. The examples are organized according to a simple framework consisting of three layers, which are ICT infrastructure, sector applications and use of applications. The cases throughout the paper shall serve as a basis for creative thought and innovation in ICT in developing countries
Drawing on infoDev's expertise in business incubation and technology entrepreneurship, this program seeks to create open spaces where mobile application developers can interact, work, and gain access to tools and expertise to assist in the creation of viable mobile application businesses. To access a lab, local programmers, web designers or mobile application developers can register as members, at no charge or for a nominal fee, depending on a particular lab’s business model. Each lab will provide an environment conducive to the development of solutions that have the potential to scale commercially, by providing state of the art equipment used to develop, test and scale software, technical training and workshops on business skills. Further, the labs will act as gateways to local, regional and international markets and will connect entrepreneurs with seed, venture and angel investors.
These labs, first established in Africa and then Eastern Europe and Asia, will provide a number of services including:
Training and accreditation for mobile applications developers;
As mobile technologies continue to connect and empower individuals around the world, the GSMA mWomen Programme and Vodafone have teamed up to reach out to women in developing countries by promoting innovation in mobile applications creation. The mWomen BOP (Base of the Pyramid) App Challenge, sponsored by Vodafone, is meant to stimulate the creation of mobile phone applications for use by women in developing countries who are living on less than $2/day. While some of these women may have access to cellular phones, apps that address their daily activities and realities are lacking. This challenge directs application development at two different tiers of devices: 1) low end devices, or feature phones; and 2) smartphones.
Author(s)
Infodev
Website
http://www.infodev.org/en/Project.116.html
Examples of ICT Innovations for Developing Countries
airtel Africa, Standard Chartered Bank and MasterCard Worldwide were honored for mobile payments innovation at the 16th Annual Global Mobile Awards held during Mobile World Congress (MWC) 2011. The recently launched virtual card product, developed in collaboration between airtel Africa, Standard Chartered and MasterCard, received top honors as the Best Mobile Money Product or Solution.
